if congress fails to reach any agreement, income tax rates will go up on just about everyone on january 1st. unemployment benefits will expire for many as well. >> thousands of nurses will walk off the job today at nine bay area hospitals. nurses with sutter health's alta bates summit medical center are asking for negotiated labor contracts and improvements in patient care protections. such as staffing levels, health benefits, and sick days. strikers say hospital officials want to reduce the number of paid sick days for nurses and technicians, while eliminating health care coverage for those who work fewer than 30 hours a week. >> we will be right back. thousands of palestinians and international tourists are visiting bethlehem to visit christmas. and to celebrate-christmas. this is live at the we will be right back. >> watching wall street, this shorter trading day. they are open until just 1:00 p.m., not a lot to cheer about. with little in the news. there was a expected a lower opening. of the driving force was the fiscal cliff. expect low trading volume with wall street closing at 1